IAntique.com is a social networking community that exists to help “Bring the romance back to the antiques world” by creating ...

IAntique.com is a social networking community that exists to help “Bring the romance back to the antiques world” by creating a bridge between collectors, dealers, and owners of antique malls and shops.

iAntique is much more than a electronic bulletin board and more targeted thanFacebook – iAntique connects you with the people you want to meet and know.Members can:

Connect with over 6,500 other members that not only love antiques and collectibles but collect, buy, and sell.

Raise the visibility of your shop or mall through new social connections.

Highlight items you are looking to buy or sell through our FREE classifieds

and auctions.

Drive more traffic to your website through your business listing.

Provide the means to host LIVE events or seminars.

Take part in LIVE discussions including some aimed specifically at the business end of things.

1. Identify equipment to be involved in live events / chats.2. Create test classifieds.3. Call a meeting with your dealers and explain to...

1. Identify equipment to be involved in live events / chats.2. Create test classifieds.3. Call a meeting with your dealers and explain to them how these activities will create new interests & enthusiasm.4. Schedule a live event to broadcast from your location. Have a camera-friendly collector to give a ten or fifteen minute talk on what they collect.5. Begin listing items in the classifieds. See the attached information about how to list items with the best success.6. Create a few booth tour videos each week. Find that ‘on-camera’ person that is knowledgeable and enjoys talking about antiques. Don’t forget to create these videos during business hours - customers love to see things happening. And don’t be shy about talking to customers about iAntique - by continuing their collecting interests after visiting, they will become stronger customers.7. Schedule workshops & host live, online events. Give customers a reason to come back to your store, and you will give new customers a reason to visit.

1. Increase enthusiasm with your antique dealers. For the most part, other than occasional sales; the daily activity in...

1. Increase enthusiasm with your antique dealers. For the most part, other than occasional sales; the daily activity in the antiques business is pretty basic. Start a few new activities and see interest start to grow.

The time is ripe for the rebirth of excitement to this industry. We’ve seen it happen already.

3. What benefit is making short videos in our store / mall ? This is actually one of the more fun activities. We found that just making the videos, grabs people’s attention. You’ll be asked ‘What are you doing?’, ‘Whats it for’, ‘Where can I see it?’ Collectors love seeing what other people collect. Plus, with the popularity of social networking, people are spending more time on the Internet looking at topics they are interested in.

We’ve found that doing a combination of booth tour videos, item specific videos and even workshops generates a lot of interest.

4.What about listing items for sale on iAntique? Here’s another great example of working in view of your customers / dealers. As you begin using iAntique’s free classifieds system to list items for sale online, dealers and customers see your efforts and not only acknowledge your positive actions, but will actually share with other dealers and potential customers of whats going on in your store.

5. Allows networking between stores.

6. Classifieds

7. Dealers bring in better quality of merchandise when they feel good about what is going on in the store. Dealers see there is positive things going on to sell / promote their merch.

8. Changes in dealer attitude - to more positive. Dealers are able to communicate with other dealers in their area of collecting.

The industry has weathered several years of shifting enthusiasm, and several indicators are showing very positive activity in the world o...

The industry has weathered several years of shifting enthusiasm, and several indicators are showing very positive activity in the world of antiques and collectibles. Sales are indicating consumers are buying vintage items not only as collectibles, but for utilitarian purposes. And antique stores are full of items Made In America; and people are buying more solid items and less from the ‘disposable products culture’.

Your involvement, means: (1) you are taking positive steps to rebuild the romance with antiques; (2) showing others your business in working to be more involved in the online world and part of an online community. You’ll also be networking with other antique businesses that understand the need to be involved in the virtual world.

If you run an antiques business, you should understand that sharing your ideas, thoughts and tips to operating your business with others isn’t revealing secrets, it’s broadening the abilities of others in your industry. The more places working to revitalize the antiques market is good for every store around.

We encourage strong outreach to younger antique collectors. The future involves reaching new customers and collectors. By taking your business outside your walls, you are able to reach a new group of people that may not have ever been to your store.

Remember, the new collectors of today, can be the antiques dealers of tomorrow.